A Dog's Devotion Quotes

“Runaways are the foundation for what air scent dogs do – it’s a chain of behavior we start with puppies from day one. In short, the handler holds the dog while another person runs away and hides a short distance away. The dog is released with a “go find” command, locates the subject, returns to the handler, and does a trained final response (TFR) such as a bark, jump, or tug to communicate that he has found a subject. “Show me!” shouts the handler, who then sprints after the dog, who has already whirled and is now dashing madly back to the lost person. Upon arrival, the dog’s favorite toy magically appears, a big party ensues, and the handler and training subject yip and yell to excite and reward the K9.”
― Suzanne Elshult, A Dog's Devotion: True Adventures of a K9 Search and Rescue Team

“Over time, I came to realize that proofing your dog to not to alert on any odor, animal remains, or bones that are nonhuman is essential. What should I proof my dog on? Live animals, dead animals, animal bones, dead fish, people, garbage, glass jars, gloves, plastic, fresh food, rotten food, excrement, and the list goes on.”
― Suzanne Elshult, A Dog's Devotion: True Adventures of a K9 Search and Rescue Team

“I take out my Professional K9 Scent Detection Device (a jar of soap bubbles from Toys R Us) and determine what direction the wind is coming from by watching where my bubbles go.”
― Suzanne Elshult, A Dog's Devotion: True Adventures of a K9 Search and Rescue Team

“Mystery is the most powerful demon we face. What happened? We don’t know. What decisions did she make? We don’t know. What route did she take? We don’t know. Where is she now? We don’t know.”
― Suzanne Elshult, A Dog's Devotion: True Adventures of a K9 Search and Rescue Team

“I vividly remember the intense coaxing it took me and my first search dog, Bosse, to get a little dog named Shotgun to leave his owner who had died falling off a cliff in a remote part of the Cascade mountains. Shotgun had been sitting for days by his dead master in the snow. Starved and exceedingly cold, he refused to leave his owner until the presence of another dog finally persuaded him to return with us, and to a tearful reunion with the victim’s wife. For her, Shotgun was the last bit of living connection with her husband, and I remember her grateful tears that the little dog had been rescued.”
― Suzanne Elshult, A Dog's Devotion: True Adventures of a K9 Search and Rescue Team

“For mountain rescue operations such as the search for Edwin, we’ll carry twenty-four-hour mission packs, heavy with gear, clothing layers, food, and emergency equipment we may need should we be forced to bivouac overnight high on the mountains. We’ll also carry with us the unseen, the training, successes – and fears 0 from our past experiences in the wilderness.”
― Suzanne Elshult, A Dog's Devotion: True Adventures of a K9 Search and Rescue Team

“Lassie! Go find Timmy!” Many people think search dogs are motivated by a heart-warming, tear-inspired desire to save lost humans. That is not quite true. Most search dogs are motivated by a desire to play with their Most Favorite Toy in the World, the magic toy that only appears after they have led their handler to a lost person. This is the Search Game taught to search dogs throughout the world and responsible for saving hundreds of lives every year. While search dogs are always happy to find a new human (and practice what some of our volunteer hiders call the Rescue Face Lick), most are driven by play the Search Game for the Most Favorite Toy in the World.”
― Suzanne Elshult, A Dog's Devotion: True Adventures of a K9 Search and Rescue Team

“Political resistance” is a phrase encompassing two concepts that are unfortunately common in the K9 world: “My dog is better than your dog,” and “My K9 training method is the only training method in the known universe that works.” If these concepts seem childish to you, well, you’re not alone.”
― Suzanne Elshult, A Dog's Devotion: True Adventures of a K9 Search and Rescue Team

“Of those involved in the months-long Oso Disaster Search, I often think of the many that we did not see. We didn’t see the civilian volunteers who built the urgently needed bypass road on the south side of the slide. We didn’t see the FEMA staff who set up tents and provided incident command logistics. We didn’t see the community members who cooked and emptied their shelves to deliver shovels, gloves, and flashlights to the Darrington and Oso fire stations. We didn’t see the medical examiner’s staff who worked so hard to identify victims. We didn’t see the helicopter support crews who provided gas, service, and maintenance to keep them flying. We didn’t see the girl scout troop who prepared and delivered baskets of treats and toys for the dogs.”
― Suzanne Elshult, A Dog's Devotion: True Adventures of a K9 Search and Rescue Team

“One of the secrets of search and rescue is this: when we are searching for the lost, when we are rescuing the injured, usually we’re having a pretty good time. We’re out with SAR friends; we’re having an adventure; we’re trying to save the world (or at least a small part of it). And yet, at the same time, we reflect that every mission may be a life-changing tragedy for families left behind.”
― Suzanne Elshult, A Dog's Devotion: True Adventures of a K9 Search and Rescue Team

“For her trained response, I naively let Keb pick a behavior that seemed to come naturally for her: a “jump alert.” To my enduring dismay, this evolved into a full-on body slam, as Keb started her jump five feet from me and would impact my body as a small furry missile.”
― Suzanne Elshult, A Dog's Devotion: True Adventures of a K9 Search and Rescue Team